雙語對話:That'll teach you這回你該長記性了!

Hello, and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Neil and errr… where’s Feifei?

大家好,歡迎和我一起聽今天的地道英語,尼爾和…菲菲哪裡去了?

…sorry I’m late. Hello!

…抱歉我遲到了。大家好!

Goodness, it’s not like you to be late. You’re always so punctual and… smartly dressed. But today you look a mess - if you don’t mind me saying.

天哪,遲到可不是你的作風。你總是那麼準時且…穿着得體。但你今天看上去一團糟啊——如果你不介意我這麼說的話。

I do mind you saying, Neil. It’s been a very stressful morning. I didn’t have time to shower, iron my clothes or even have breakfast.

我確實介意你這麼說,尼爾。這是一個壓力山大的早晨。我沒有時間洗澡,熨衣服,甚至吃早飯

Hmm, did you get up late by any chance?

嗯,那你是起晚了嗎?

Yes, you’re right. I forgot to set my alarm last night. So I overslept!

對,你說對了。我昨晚忘了定鬧鐘了。所以睡過頭了!

Has this got anything to do with you going out last night?I suppose you’re going to tell me you had such a great time, you stayed out later than expected?

這和你昨晚外出有關係嗎?我想你會告訴我你玩得很開心,回家預計的要晚?

Yes, how did you guess? I had one of the best nights out for a long time – but I’m regretting it now!

對,你是怎麼猜到的?這是我很長一段時間以來,度過的最美好的夜晚之一,可我現在後悔了!

Ah well, that’ll teach you for staying out late – enjoying yourself!

啊好吧,關於回家晚這件事,可“會教給你”——玩得愉快!

That’ll teach me’? I’m not going to school – nobody is going to ’teach me’ not to stay out late.

“會教給我”?我又不去學校——沒有人會“教我”不要在外面待到很晚。

It’s just a saying, Feifei. You might say it to someone to suggest that they should learn the bad effects of doing something and not repeat it in the future. In other words, your stress this morning is a suitable punishment for staying out late last night – you won’t do it again.

這只是一句俗語,菲菲。你可能會對某人說,建議他們學到做某事的壞影響,而不是在未來又重複犯錯。換句話說,你今早的壓力是昨晚在外面待太晚的適當懲罰——你不會再這麼做了。

You sound like my parents!

你聽上去就像我爸媽一樣!

These examples might explain the phrase better…

這些例子也許可以更好地解釋這個短語……

You lent some money to Dan and he didn’t pay you back – that’ll teach you!

你借了一些錢給丹,他沒有還——這回你該長記性了!

My brother got a speeding ticket for driving too fast down the High Street – that’ll teach him!

哥哥因在主要商業街上超速開車被開了超速罰單——這回他該長記性了!

The footballer got a red card for his bad tackle and now he’ll miss playing in the final – that’ll teach him!

那個足球運動員因爲他惡劣的剷球得到一張紅牌,現在他失去參加決賽機會了——這回他該長記性了!

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re hearing about the phrase ’that’ll teach you’ which is said to someone to mean they should learn from the bad effects of what they’ve done. I guess we could also say ’it serves you right!’?

這裡是BBC英語教學的地道英語,我們正在聽“這回他該長記性了”這個短語,意思是對某人說,他們應該從自己所做的事帶來的惡果吸取教訓。我猜我們也可以說“自作自受”吧?

Yes, it’s a very informal but blunt way of saying ’your suffering is your own fault’. And for you it’s true.

對,這種說法雖不正式,但很直率,意思是“自作自受”。對你來說,這是真的。

But do you know what, Neil – despite my suffering, I had a really good night out.

但你知道嗎尼爾——儘管痛苦,但我度過了一個愉快的夜晚。

Oh did you?And who did you have this ’great night out’ with?

噢是嗎?你和誰一起度過的“美好夜晚”呢?

Everyone from the office. We all went to the pub and then onto a nightclub. That’ll teach you for leaving the office early, Neil. You left too early and you missed out!

辦公室裡的每一個人啊。我們都去了酒吧,然後去了夜總會。你離開辦公室那麼早,這回長記性了吧,尼爾。你離開的太早所以錯過了!

Hmm,that’s enough teaching for one day. I’m off.

嗯,這足夠教一天了。我走了。

Bye!

再見!

來源:BBC地道英語